Flooring is one of the most visible changes you can make to a home and one where the installation matters as much as the material. The same product can last decades or fail in two years depending on how the subfloor was prepared.
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Compare quotes on whether subfloor preparation is included or listed as an allowance, since an unrealistic allowance is the usual way a low flooring quote becomes an expensive one. Material should be named by brand, collection and wear layer, not just described as vinyl or hardwood.
Luxury vinyl plank is the most common recommendation for heavy-use households, because it is waterproof, resists scratching well, and repairs are usually a matter of replacing individual planks rather than refinishing an entire floor. Tile is even more durable and completely waterproof, though it is harder underfoot and colder, which matters in living spaces. Laminate performs well against scratching but can swell permanently if water sits at the seams, so it is a poor choice around pet bowls or in bathrooms. Solid hardwood is beautiful and adds resale value, and it does scratch, though it has the unique advantage of being refinishable several times over its life, so damage is recoverable in a way it is not with the alternatives. Consider the wear layer thickness rather than the product category alone, since it varies widely within every type.
Often not entirely, but it almost always needs assessment and frequently needs some preparation, and this is where quotes diverge most. Modern rigid flooring, especially large-format tile and long vinyl planks, is unforgiving of an uneven substrate, and a floor that felt fine underfoot can still be out of tolerance enough to cause hollow spots, cracked grout or separating seams. Full replacement is usually only necessary where there is water damage, rot, or structural movement. What is much more common is levelling with a self-levelling compound, securing squeaky or loose sections, or adding a moisture barrier over concrete. Ask each contractor what they will do to prepare the subfloor and whether it is included or carried as an allowance, because an allowance set unrealistically low is the usual mechanism behind a surprise invoice.
It varies substantially by material and adhesive. Floating floors such as laminate and click-lock vinyl are generally walkable immediately on completion. Glue-down installations typically need a day or so before normal traffic and longer before heavy furniture is replaced. Tile needs the mortar to cure before grouting, then the grout to cure and be sealed, which commonly spreads over several days. Site-finished hardwood is the longest: the finish needs to cure before furniture returns, and manufacturers often specify a considerably longer period before rugs are laid down, since covering a curing finish can mark it permanently. Ask for the specific cure schedule in writing as part of the quote, particularly if you need the room back by a fixed date, and plan furniture moves around it rather than the other way round.
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